It's fair to say there's a lot riding on Pokémon Legends: Arceus. After 2019's Sword & Shield failed to deliver the evolution fans of the series have been yearning for, the upcoming Switch RPG has provided a ray of hope that Pokémon is capable of substantial change.
We won't know for sure if this new, more open Pokémon adventure can live up to the hype until we play it for ourselves later this week, but a number of early preview impressions from various Japanese outlets are providing very encouraging early signs.
As spotted by VGC, Famitsu, 4Gamer, and Game Watch have all heaped praise on Pokémon Legends: Arceus and the bold new direction it's taking the franchise following a recent hands-on event.
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“It’s safe to say that this game is completely different from previous titles," Famitsu raved. “The first thing that impressed me when I started playing was the exhilarating feeling of moving around freely in the vast field.”
Being able to find, catch, and battle Pokémon who freely roam the game's open-world areas was singled out as particularly exciting, as was being able to fly through the sky and see areas from a new perspective.
Game Watch also had plenty of nice things to say about the game's new battle system, which for the first time ever is part of the actual world and no longer exists on a separate screen.
“This system, which successfully combines the action of this title with traditional Pokémon battles, is highly accomplished, and I especially appreciate the fact that Pokémon battles are ‘a means to a different end’, which fits the worldview of the game”, it wrote.
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“In addition, since you are directly attacked by Pokémon in this game, you will feel a great sense of tension when you discover a tough Pokémon.
“It’s a game experience like no other in the series, and I have high hopes for it as a completely new form of Pokémon game.”
Finally, 4Gamer appreciated the variety of Pokémon, and the way they behave in the open world.
“One thing that struck me was that Drifloon was very belligerent and attacked as soon as it noticed us. Even if we weren’t engaged in a Pokémon battle, they would charge at the main character without mercy," it said. “You get the feeling this was the way things were before Pokémon and humans got along.”
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All in all, it sounds like Pokémon Legends: Arceus might just be the game we've been waiting for.
Featured Image Credit: Nintendo